How to Choose a Heating & Air Conditioning Contractor

Do your research: Before choosing a heating and air conditioning contractor, make sure you know the model of your current system and its maintenance history. Also, write down any problems with its operation, or areas of your home that are uncomfortable. To find a qualified technician, study the license and insurance requirements for contractors in Massachusetts to make sure you are choosing a heating and air conditioning contractor that is qualified to work in your area.

Ask around: Ask friends, family and neighbors for referrals when choosing a heating and air conditioning contractor. Failing that, contact a local trade organization or the Better Business Bureau to get a list of their members.

Get references: Before choosing a heating and air conditioning contractor, ask for references from their previous customers and call them. Ask about the contractor's installation or service performance, and whether or not the job was completed on time and within budget. Also, try to speak to a person who has had a problem with their installation, and ask how well the contractor resolved the issue.

Save money: ENERGY STAR qualified products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, saving energy and money in the long run. When choosing your heating and air conditioning contractor, ask to be shown how much money you can expect to save. As an added bonus, many Energy Star products also include rebates.

Get it in writing: Compare contractors' proposals (bids), to compare cost, energy efficiency and warranties. They should be itemized so that you can see whether or not the suggested equipment is comparable, and if the lowest bid will also save you the most on energy bills in the long run. A slightly higher bid may actually get you better service and better equipment.

Get a home evaluation: Choosing a heating and air conditioning contractor shouldn't take place over the phone. A qualified contractor should spend time assessing your current system and home to determine your needs, and to size the heating and cooling system based on the size of your house, level of insulation, and windows. A bigger system isn't better if your heating and air conditioning needs are minimal. In addition, a contractor may also want to inspect your duct system for air leaks and insulation, and measure airflow to make sure it meets the equipment manufacturer's specifications.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about how to choose a heating and air conditioning technician and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Solutions Guide.

Rodenhiser Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning serves the Route 495/128 area of Massachusetts. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.